All About Dialysis: A Patient's Point of View (eBook)

What I Do for Pastime as a Dialysis Patient

Chapter II: What I do for Pastime as a Dialysis Patient

There are many ways that a dialysis patient could use his time beneficially. The patient could do light office work, read books about research and topics that interest him, engage in light exercises, watch TV, engage in small projects and many more. For me, I use my time bonding with my family especially during travels, writing essays on topics that interest me, doing research in Google about dialysis and writing articles about dialysis based on my research and actual experiences, expressing my opinions on various issues by writing them down, writing poems and short essays and caring for my pet aquarium fishes.

It is nice to travel to different places together with my family. It creates closeness and good feeling of relaxation.

1.1 Splash Island Adventure:

This was written on March 6, 2014.

Summer is fast approaching. Beat the summer heat, go for a cool dip in your favorite water resorts and indulge yourself in group fun with your family and friends.

We enjoyed the cool water and the thrill of the tall snaking rides at the Splash Island Resort in Laguna. If you are looking for Adrenalin rush, want to escape the summer heat or simply aching for a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city living, this is the place for you to visit.

We usually go out in leisure trip with our family. It is fun to have such outings with the family: besides lazily floating in rubber boats along the current of a man made creek like waterway curving around the resort, you will also be challenged by a huge multi-wave swimming pool and a hovering zip line above.

The place is vibrant and busy with kids in a hurry to the next open ride while others choose to stay in huts or under the shade of trees chatting and eating. Many people are falling in line waiting for their turn at various water rides. When their turn is reached the resort assistant guides them to the mouth of the tube and after a short push, the rubber boat will be shuttling down inside the water tube with a loud shriek from the excited riders. You cannot bring your food or bottled water with you but there are plenty of food kiosks with their own food specialty; and native huts where you can rest and eat. Splash Island Resort is a 30-45 minute drive from Manila. A day well spent!

1.2 Ocean Adventure at Subic Bay:

This is another travel with the family. This was written on March 6, 2014.

It is fun to watch dolphins jumping and swimming beside a moving ship. It is even more fun if you can watch them perform in a show and you can even command, touch and play with them afterwards.

This is again, another bonding trip with my family. This time it is a part of my birthday celebration. After a 3 hour ride from Manila, we finally arrived at Ocean Adventure, nestled in Subic Bay within the Subic Bay Free Port Zone in Zambales    ( a former American Naval Base). As we parked our vehicle, I noticed that the area is marked by forested mountains in the background with a sign "do not feed the monkeys". I eagerly looked for one monkey but there was none that day.  We were late for the Sea Lion Show and we can hear the delighted applause and laughing of the audience. We settled for the Dolphin Show and as we waited we can see the picturesque horizon of the bay together with the dolphin holding area and the trainers. Once in a while few dolphins are bobbing and swimming around the pens. A bigger fish is swimming with the dolphins and introduced later as a false killer whale. Later, we saw other visitors and the Sea Lion audience as they trickled in after the show was finished. At last the Dolphin Show started with an introduction from the emcee and the high jumping act of the dolphins and the false killer whale.

The dolphins were well trained and obedient as they jump and swim in synchrony with what the emcee said. The trainers continuously fed the dolphins and whale small fish to motivate them to perform the tricks. A boy who volunteered was met with a surprise from the false killer whale. The show was very entertaining and at the distant we can also see dolphins performing for family or small group where they can be touched, rode upon in a "merry go round" style and commanded with the aid of the trainers. At the end of the show, those who paid for the picture taking with the dolphins (me and my wife included) were called and prepared to pose beside a dolphin and touch its skin. I am amazed to see that the dolphin knows how to pose, even with a "smile"!

There was a wild animal show in the other staging area with some members of an indigenous tribe who showed the audience how to survive using materials in the jungle (making fire and cooking with dried and freshly cut bamboo stems). There was also audience participation where they were able to touch the wild animals.  While waiting for the Sea Lion Show we rested in a Nipa Hut for free and took pictures around. Then we visited the salt water aquariums with many tropical fishes. In the middle portion of the area is a restaurant. The last show is the Sea Lion Show which is also very entertaining. It is a little bit tiring trip but a satisfying and a happy one.

1.3 Hundred Island Memoirs:

This is about our family travel to Camiling, Tarlac, hometown of my father, and then we went to Alaminos, Pangasinan where the Hundred Islands tourist spot is located. This was written on April 13, 2014.

It is good to reminisce the past when there was a time when we all had free time to enjoy the sun and the beach on one of our road trips. Temporary but quality moments that money can't buy.

It is summer time once again and time for vacation and fun. This brings memories of our summer outings with my family many years back when we had a chance to visit our relatives in my father’s hometown in Camiling, Tarlac. The next province is Pangasinan and one of their famous tourist spot is the Hundred Islands in Alaminos so we decided to cap our vacation by visiting the place. It is about a four hour drive from Manila via the North Luzon Express Way and the Tarlac route. From Tarlac, we passed by Lingayen which is famous for its gulf and "bangus" or milkfish. At last we reached the town proper of Alaminos, Pangasinan and it was not difficult for us to look for the way to the site of the hundred islands due to the big posters and signs that pointed us to the right "barangay". It was already late afternoon when we reached the docking area of boats going to the islands and the water is murky and there is no beach and we can’t see a single island. We have learned from the tourists that the islands are out there in the sea and can only be reached by riding a motorized boat for hire. So we went to a grocery store to buy what we need for the night and looked for a place where we can stay. Luckily, there is one that is affordable and can accommodate six people in one big room. It was the owner of the lodging house who made arrangements for the boat which we will use in the morning.

  It was about eight o clock in the morning when we left for the island where most tourists are visiting. Our boat ride was smooth as the sea was calm and it was a fair day. The cool breeze and mild salt water spray from broken waves was very soothing. We passed some islands along the way and the beaches are white and the water is clear and very alluring. After about forty five minutes we reached the island that is famous for tourists and it was really a lovely island. The scenery is lush with vegetation and there are picnic areas with shades where you can eat and rest. There is also a resort with a restaurant where you can stay overnight. The place is also secured by some policemen on guard 24 hours. The beach is white and the sand is fine and clean. There is a designated area for swimming, kayaking and Jet Ski driving. We rode a kayak and cheerfully paddled in the clear water to see some beautiful corals and fishes. From time to time we stopped and paused for picture taking around the island. The adjacent islands are near with white sand beaches and we were informed that those islands can be rented exclusively for picnics or other private activities. There are native huts perched on hills and the panoramic view is fantastic. The place is a perfect haven for yachts and truly an island getaway.

On our way back, all of us are still full of vigor. I sat near the front tip of the boat, spread my arms like the actor in the movie Titanic and felt the wind and fast movement of the boat and I felt like I was flying. We passed by the Big Brother Island where they shoot the scenes from the reality show Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition of ABS-CBN starring Kim Chui and Gerald Anderson. They constructed a bungalow with the signage of Big...